SINGAPORE — Australia’s junior swimmers have made a strong start to the 5th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships, winning two gold medals on the first day of racing at the OCBC Aquatic Centre to send a strong signal of intent to their rivals.

With four medals on offer last night (Aug 25), the Australian men’s 4x100m freestyle quartet of Vincent Dai, Kyle Chalmers, Brayden McCarthy and Jack Cartwright claimed the first gold for their country, sprinting home in a time of 3min 17.39s to finish ahead of the United States (3:18.42) and Italy (3:18.58), who won the silver and bronze, respectively.

The women’s 4x200m freestyle relay team added a second gold in the final race of the evening, with Tamsini Cook, Lucy McJannett, Shayna Jack and Gemma Cooney claiming victory in a new world junior record and championship time of 7:56.68. Canada won the silver in 7:57.04, while Russia (7:57.58) took the bronze.

Australia had topped the medal table at the previous championships in 2013 in Dubai with 10 gold, six silver and two bronze medals. And Kyle, who posted the fastest split timing in the men’s relay with 48.41s, is hoping for the team to repeat the feat in Singapore.

“We did a pretty good job tonight and getting a gold medal here is an awesome way to start the meet,” said Kyle, 16. “We won the medal tally in Dubai so hopefully we can keep that up this year and keep swimming fast for the remainder of the championships.”

Earlier in the evening, the first gold medal of the championships was won by America’s Grant Shoults as he clocked a time of 3:48.91 to finish first in the men’s 400m freestyle ahead of China’s Yang Jintong (3:50.05) and Qiu Ziao (3:50.99).

Great Britain’s Rosie Rudin also won gold in the women’s 400m individual medley final in a new world junior record time of 4:39.01. She finished ahead of compatriot Georgia Coates (4:39.94) and Spain’s Africa Zamorano (4:40.15). “I’m absolutely over the moon, I wasn’t expecting to go that fast for my race,” said Rosie. “After a busy year with school and swimming combined, it’s nice to get a reward for my hard work.”

Tonight’s programme will feature nine finals, and fans can expect a thrilling showdown in the men’s 100m breaststroke final between Russian teen sensation Anton Chupkov — the 18-year-old set a new world junior record time of 1:00.12 in yesterday’s heats — and American swimmers Michael Andrew (1:00.78) and Reece Whitley (1:01.52).

“Anton is in good form but I’m sure I can beat him in the final,” said Michael. “If I’m not afraid to take the race to him and go in there aiming for the gold, I’ll do all right. There were a few mistakes I had with my dives and turns which I’ll be working on, but the final should be fun and I’m looking forward to that.”